Let’s remember and hold in our hearts what the heavenly host proclaimed “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14) The last ten verses of that scripture should be considered and applied to our hearts and minds. On them is key to eternal life.
In remembrance and honor to Jesus Christ, love, peace and joy to all of you!
Our Yearly Christmas Letter
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 104:33 – I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live!
There are always more reasons to praise God than to not to. If you are reading this right now, you are a reason for us to celebrate the goodness of God. Like for my parents (who are now with the Lord) we celebrate the goodness of God that He has given a sure promise of a glorious forever with Him. Christmas, even for those who don’t truly celebrate Jesus, has for most people, always been a happy time, a family time, a time of making more good memories to cherish in times ahead. Jesus is the joyous reason we celebrate Christmas. Remember the fun Christmases, the great memories, and the fact that we had our loved ones who have gone ahead, to cherish and remember. Their memory will bring a tear to our eyes, but even better, warmth to our hearts and smiles to our faces. Right now we are remembering Teresa’s grandmother Apo, who was so wise and so loving. We would be enthralled as she would share stories from her life. She loved the Lord. She loved us and our sons. I wish she were around to talk to them and share her stories with them and with great-grandchildren now and to come. Just remembering her makes our hearts happy and warm. So for the family recently passed on, and to the ones who passed on many years ago, as Bob Hope sang “Thanks For The Memories.” Because of you we have many good and loving memories. We remember the joy of the past and the victories over the tough times. And the reason we have Christmas is because of Jesus. He really is the enabler and giver of all the good memories. He is the one who has loved us most of all. So Jesus, thank you for the memories. You are a good, good Savior and Lord. Thank you for coming and saving us. Thank you!
There is one thing that many of us already knew at the beginning of 2020. The joy of our soul comes from the Lord and so nothing and no one could steal that joy because no circumstance here on earth can steal a Jesus-provided love and joy. And 2020 did not steal our joy. It did not steal love from us. It did not and could not because Jesus is in control. He has been and He always will be. We hope that the joy of the Lord reigns unshakably in your hearts and souls right now and unto the day when all those who love Him shall forever live in His peace. We love you all so very much, but Jesus loves you more, so very much more. Thank you Jesus!
Teresa and I have moved on from our beloved RHCC church, and we are very blessed that the Lord has brought us to Calvary Assembly in Lomita (Where my parents worshipped, and also Terri and Henry till they moved to AZ.) Teresa is a blessing to all who love her as she continues to humbly submit to God and to pursue Him. The Lord blesses her with wisdom and knowledge. She is a great example to all on how the Lord has called us to live. As in past years she continues to work at Home Depot and her reputation there remains as being a “go-to” person for help. Even so, she is certainly our go to person in life!
Julian continues to work at his same job and is still thankful for the stable position. He remains in his apartment and thankful to the Lord for many blessings. Praise God who loves, protects, and also provides for him. As we write every year we are proud of him and most of all are blessed that He loves the Lord! And in loving Jesus, He is doing the most important thing in life.
Raymond and Jessica are well and are doing great. This year they have done less traveling, for obvious reasons. Raymond continues at his employment and excels. He grows the company business as their General Manager and also as their top sales person. Jessica is amazing as she continues with her several part time work-at-home jobs so that she could reduce her Pharmacy Tech work and thereby stay home with Lily. She remains very much a Proverbs 31:10-31 wife. She is a blessing to our family.
Lily is now almost two and a half years old. She is tall for her age and her weight stays about average for her age. She has a winning smile and knows how to use it! She is fearless of animals and insects and curious about everything. And… she is going to be a big sister in about three months. Everyone is excited about the new little girl that is coming to our family. We will have another darling to also love and cherish. Praise God! Jessica has had the normal discomforts of pregnancy, but overall both she and the new baby are doing well. God is good and Lily still is everything we could have prayed for, and beyond. We’re still proud grandparents.
I retired this year. God blessed us and set it all up. We are fine. We have moved from one year of living in faith to yet another year of doing so. God never fails and we are so grateful. As I was talking to the Lord about how different my life is I felt like the Lord said to me. “Before, you worked a regular job in this world. Now you work solely for me.” I like that. I really, really like that!
Jake is eight now. Wow! He is the sweetest dog we know. He loves Teresa and me so much and truly loves Lily. He really is a gift to all of us. Soon he will have another “little” to protect.
Amazingly Mr. Friendly (Goldfish) is still alive and thriving. Lily likes to help feed him.
Lily (on the left) with her cousins from Georgia Bob and Teresa